PHY6040 Particle Detectors Graduate Course
Dr. Chris Booth

General Description

Course Aims: To provide an introduction to the physics behind
particle detectors, the utilisation of that physics in practical instruments
and the applications of detectors in experimental apparatus.

Objectives: On successful completion of this course, you should:

understand how energetic particles interact with the matter they traverse;

be able to describe qualitatively how energy loss depends on the properties
of the traversing particle;

be familiar with methods by which atomic ionisation and excitation are
utilised in solid, liquid and gaseous detectors;

understand coherent effects in matter, and their exploitation in Cherenkov
and transition radiation detectors;

appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of shower detectors or calorimeters;

understand basic design criteria for practical detectors;

recognise appropriate applications for the different types of detectors;

be able to evaluate the performance of various simple detector designs.

Handouts: Handouts are provided for each section of the course,
consisting of copies of transparencies, with diagrams and other information.
Detailed notes are provided for the more mathematical sections of the material.

Problems: Problems are set on each topic, to be handed in the following week.

Detectors for Nuclear and Particle Physics - Syllabus

(8 Lectures)

Click on the link to see notes and supplementary material for
that unit on the screen.
Please note that these notes are neither a copy of nor a replacement for the material
presented in the lectures, both through printed handouts and other forms of delivery!

Aims of Particle DetectorsDetermination of position, energy and momentum. Identification
of particle type (determination of mass).
Overview of a large experiment
in particle physics.